Nine Australians die in Nias chopper crash

The Department of Defence has confirmed nine Australian Defence Force personnel are missing, presumed dead, after a helicopter crash on the Indonesian island of Nias.

An Australian Navy Sea King helicopter from HMAS Kanimbla crashed on approach to a village in the south of the earthquake-stricken island yesterday at about 7:30pm (AEST).

"Two Australian Defence Force personnel have been recovered from the crash site of the Navy Sea King, however another nine ADF personnel on board the crashed helicopter are missing presumed dead," a statement said.

Those killed were seven men and two women, coming from the ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

The incident is the deadliest involving the Australian military since 18 servicemen died when two Black Hawk helicopters collided during a training exercise in Queensland in June 1996.

The chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), General Peter Cosgrove, says the operation to help the people of Nias will continue and a stress management team is on its way from Australia.

"This is a dreadful tragedy," General Cosgrove said. "Those who have appeared to have lost their lives - we're thinking now of their loved ones."

He added: "People on the site are doing very well and are seeking to look after those who survived the crash and of course continuing to ascertain the exact fate of the nine missing presumed dead and caring for each other at this stage."

Prime Minister John Howard says the ADF will carry out a formal investigation.

"It's really quite heartbreaking ... they were helping the poor people of Nias," he said. "It appears to have been a terrible accident.

"I am really very saddened by this."

The Sea King helicopter had started flying medical and aid sorties on the quake-stricken island just a few hours before it came down.

The helicopter had been approaching the village of Amadraya in southern Nias.

An eyewitness said the helicopter appeared to be preparing to land when it dropped from about 20 metres above the ground, cockpit first, then burst into flames on hitting land.

The two survivors were evacuated by the ship's other helicopter and are now being treated on board Kanimbla, which is steaming towards the crash site.

The Kanimbla had been heading home from a long aid mission in tsunami-hit Aceh before it was turned around and sent to Nias after last week's earthquake.